Want to know how to play Craps? Check out these 4 basic rules to jump start your game!

Craps is often thought of as complicated and may have deterred some of you from playing, however it is a very easy casino game once you understand the basic rules.

In fact Craps is a favorite among many casino goers! You can play craps for free by following this link (opens in new window). So let’s break down the game and simplify the rules…

1. The Shooter
Two die are rolled by the “shooter” who must make a “pass” or “don’t pass” bet to be eligible to roll the die. Each player at the table has the choice of being the shooter.

The first throw of the die (by each shooter) is called the “come-out roll”, the series of rolls lasts as long as the shooter continues to make winning rolls. When the shooter fails to make a winning roll it’s called “not making the point” or “seven out”, at which point the die are passed on to the next shooter clockwise.

2. Pass or Don’t Pass
On the come-out roll the “pass line” bet wins if a 7 or 11 is thrown. The bet loses if a 2, 3 or 12 is throw, which is known as “rolling craps”. The “don’t pass” bet wins if a 2 or 3 is thrown, and loses when a 7 or 11 is thrown. In this case the 12 is a standoff, to avoid giving this bet an advantage.

3. Establishing the Point
If the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 the shooter must roll this number again (to win) before rolling a 7. Rolling any of these on the come-out roll is called “establishing the point” and a puck (white side up) is placed on this number to identify the “‘point”. If the puck is moved to the “don’t come” bar and turned black side up it means that a new come-out roll is about to take place, occurring when the shooter makes the point or sevens-out.

4. Betting the Shooter
To bet on the shooter you either bet that they will make the point or will not make the point. Betting with the shooter means you place your bet on the “pass line” and to go against the shooter place your bet on the “don’t pass line”.

Helpful Hints
Review the odds – Learning the odds will help you decide which wager is right for you.

Understand the bets available – There are many bets you can make; pass/don’t pass, come/don’t come, hard way, proposition, buying and placing bets and even odds betting.

Learn the craps lingo – Craps uses many names for rolls and certain combinations of numbers, get to know them and you’ll feel in control.

Read more about Craps Rules and Craps Strategy in our casino games rules & strategies section.

Furthermore, you can red up on our collection of online gambling guides here and then play Craps at a top rated internet casino from our list of over 100 online casino reviews.